NFL Scouting Combine Roundup: The 10 things you need to know

Kirk Cousins was given the franchise tag by Washington. (Nick Wass/AP)

INDIANAPOLIS — Numbers and notes spilled out by the second at this year's NFL Combine in an accelerated news cycle, and after four full days of reporting and scouring Indy, the Daily News is here to wrap it all up.

Here is a Top 10 Roundup of important nuggets, observations and insights on some of the main storylines in Indy and also on some lesser-known items, with a distinct Giants and NFC East theme.

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1. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON?

Washington tried to change the conversation Saturday night by announcing a two-year contract extension for coach Jay Gruden, but that did nothing to distract from GM Scot McCloughan's unusual and worrisome absence from the Combine. Washington CBS Radio affiliate 106.7 The Fan actually reported McCloughan had been sent home from the team facility on Feb. 20, and though McCloughan's 100-year-old grandmother died on Feb. 6, there are concerns because he has had issues with alcohol before. McCloughan was fired as 49ers GM in 2010 and lost a job as a senior executive with the Seahawks in 2014. Then there also is the team's unbelievable decision to franchise tag quarterback Kirk Cousins for a second straight season, first for $19.9 million in 2016 and now for $23.9 million in 2017. You heard that correctly: Kirk Cousins is poised to make almost $24 million next season, before hitting the market again. This has led to widespread puzzlement about how a team's front office could let a player, and such a less-than-elite player, gain virtually all of the leverage in a negotiation. But here we are, and that's why a Cousins trade is considered possible. Still, the possible three-way trade floated by NFL.com newsbreaker Ian Rapoport still didn't make a whole lot of sense: Rapoport said the 49ers would seek to acquire Cousins, Washington would get Tony Romo from the Cowboys, and Dallas would get picks. Jerry Jones said there was "nothing factual in any way" about that report, as recounted by Clarence E. Hill Jr. in the Star-Telegram, and other execs and scouts laughed off the idea. Still, stay tuned.

2. THE BENCH PRESS WAS SURPRISINGLY NOT BORING

For the first time ever, players performed their official bench press of 225 pounds on a stage not only in front of GMs, coaches and scouts, but also in full view of the public and fans. Some sat in stands facing the stage, and others stood and watched from the side along with reporters. There was some conversation about whether it was fair to make the players' job interview so public. Giants offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse even created a Twitter poll that read: "With fans now able to stand feet away from Combine participants as they bench press, would you be ok with an audience for a job interview?" But as one NFL talent evaluator said: "If benching in front of people makes these guys nervous, what does that say about how they'll react to playing in front of an NFL crowd?" I think that's a fair point, and that was probably one motivation for the talent evaluators setting up the event this way. I found it hilarious, though, that the NFL made this bench press event so public and yet still had security officials constantly sweeping the area to make sure reporters and fans weren't taking pictures. Nice and backwards, NFL. By the way, I was there when TCU offensive lineman Aviante Collins did 34 reps. Wow. Most linemen were doing between late teens and mid-20s. Collins didn't even slow down until the mid-20s. He was tied for second at the Combine as of Sunday morning behind only Utah O-lineman Isaac Asiata and Auburn defensive lineman Carl Lawson. Giants strength and conditioning coach Aaron Wellman, by the way, was the official rep counter, sitting and facing the bench, counting the lifts one by one on his fingers.

Reuben Foster. (David Goldman/AP)

3. REUBEN FOSTER'S EJECTION FROM THE COMBINE SURE IS FISHY

Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, a projected top-10 pick, was sent home from the Combine on Friday for an argument with a hospital worker, as ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported. Foster's frustration apparently was related to an extended waiting period for medical examination. Foster later played it down and said nothing serious happened. "Ya'll, stop asking me what happened, for real," Foster said in an Instagram video posted by AL.com. "Nothing happened." However, if he had just gotten into a heated argument with a hospital employee, I don't see why that would have warranted his ejection from the combine altogether. People get in arguments. It happens. What I'm saying is, and I don't have information on this, but unless something physical occurred — or a physical threat was made — on what grounds would the NFL base its decision to send Foster home? That makes me think he at least might have leveled an empty threat that scared someone into reporting him, but nobody knows. It might not even affect his draft status, so we'll see. Other prospects since, though, have vouched for the Combine's unusual and frustrating schedule, primarily how the players arrive in Indianapolis and then are forced to wait around, undergo medical examinations and meetings and only toward the end of their stay go on the field and demonstrate the skills that got them here in the first place. Is that fair? Well, if NFL teams want to see how players react under duress or under unanticipated circumstances, there's no harm. Still, that's only reasonable to a point. The players should be put in a position to succeed, too.

4. CONGRATULATIONS TO ROB LEONARD, NO RELATION

You're probably wondering how in the world I didn't break the story that the Giants had promoted Rob Leonard to assistant defensive line coach. We're not related, so I have that excuse! But Leonard's promotion headlines only a handful of changes to Ben McAdoo's coaching staff going into his second year as head coach. Leonard, a Giants defensive assistant the past four seasons, replaces Jeff Zgonina, who left after one season to become the San Francisco 49ers' defensive line coach under rookie head coach Kyle Shanahan. McAdoo also has made two additions to his staff: He has hired Bobby Blick, Army's 2016 director of player personnel, as a defensive assistant, and Pratik Patel as director of performance nutrition/assistant strength and conditioning coach. Patel has been Oregon's sports nutrition coach since Oct. 2014.

5. MIKE MACCAGNAN — SMH

"SMH" stands for "Shaking My Head" in millennial text message speak, for those unfamiliar. And boy, does it ever apply to the Jets. The GM's public announcement on Friday that he is open to trading down from any of his picks came off as desperate, even if the Jets are admittedly rebuilding, and smacked of a concession that Maccagnan's start in Florham Park has been an abject failure. His selection of Christian Hackenberg in the second round of last year's draft was a fireable offense and still is. I haven't heard one person say it even might have been a good idea. Now the Jets are dumping all of these veterans Maccagnan brought in that resulted in just one OK season against a bad schedule. Dog days, for sure.

6. WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE GIANTS' OFFSEASON PLANS

The 48-hour free agency discussion period opens Tuesday. Free agency opens Thursday. Rapid fire, here is what we think we know about the Giants' plans: They want to re-sign JPP to a long-term deal at a cheaper price than the approximate $17 million franchise tag. The Daily News' Seth Walder explained what JPP might deserve here. There seems to be mutual interest in linebacker Keenan Robinson's return, and I wouldn't be surprised by a late (successful) push to re-sign defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins at a slightly-below market value, even though the consensus expectation is that he'll be gone in free agency. Left tackle Russell Okung is emerging as a more likely free agency option at left tackle than Andrew Whitworth, for financial reasons, but don't count the Giants out there or in the first round of the draft. Utah's Garett Bolles, in particular, comes off as exactly the type of physical and nasty lineman Ben McAdoo would love to have. The Giants' priorities in the first round seem to be to me, in order, tight end, running back, offensive line. Giants assistant GM Marc Ross told the team earlier in the week that he was especially impressed with the running back and defensive back prospects in this year's draft, and so I expect the Giants possibly to draft fairly high at both positions (top four rounds), especially at corner, even though they took Ohio State corner Eli Apple in the first round last year. If you ask me today who I think the Giants are taking at No. 23, it's Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, who the Daily News first reported had a formal meeting with the Giants on Wednesday night in Indianapolis. That's if Howard lasts until 23. He is a specimen. As for free agency, I do not see Adrian Peterson joining the Giants. In my opinion, they either will sign a big back in free agency at a bargain or draft a larger, downhill runner. They love Paul Perkins; don't forget that. He will get significant carries next season. The sleeper, I think, is what they do at wide receiver. Is Brandon Marshall an option, despite mutual interest expressed between Marshall and the Patriots? I don't think they're looking to spend huge money on a guy like Alshon Jeffrey if he hits the market, but they need more size at the position even if they draft a big target at tight end like Howard. By the way, don't let anyone else — especially those who weren't there - tell you McAdoo wasn't criticizing Eli Manning too harshly on Wednesday. Everyone knows Manning didn't have a great season. This was about the coach fingering Manning's turnovers and footwork when discussing the offense's shortcomings, and while partially excusing the offensive line's play, and above all while not blaming McAdoo's own, often predictable play-calling. He has every right to do it. I was writing that Manning was on his way to a down year in Weeks 2 and 3. But that's what happened on Wednesday.

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O.J. Howard. (David J. Phillip/AP)

7. ROSS THIS, ROSS THAT

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Washington receiver John Ross ran an NFL Combine record 4.22 in the 40-yard dash on Saturday, breaking Chris Johnson's previous record of 4.24 from 2008. Incredibly, though, while the company Adidas had promised in a promotion this year to buy a player his own island if he broke the 40-yard dash record, Ross did not qualify. Specifically, the language said Adidas would "provide to Athlete an island that has a maximum value of One Million Dollars." The fine print, though, was that the athlete had to wear "Adidas shoes" during the run, and Ross wore Nikes. Ross joked afterward that he didn't care about missing out on the island, though, because he can't swim and doesn't own a boat. In the meantime, while Ross is a highly-touted prospect, his record-breaking run gave way to assumptions that now some team inevitably will draft him higher than he deserves to go. Plenty of people joked that if the late Al Davis were still alive, he'd take Ross without blinking an eye. One GIF was pure gold:

QB Dak Prescott (2016 fourth-round pick), RB Zeke Elliott (2016 first-round pick), free agency and the draft are the hottest topics in discussions about how the reigning NFC East champion Cowboys will protect their crown and maybe make a Super Bowl run. But don't forget about Jaylon Smith, the Notre Dame linebacker who missed his rookie season after tearing up his left knee in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State last year. I ran into Smith at the Combine, and Dallas' 2016 second-round pick is in great spirits, excited about his rehab and ability to just practice, let alone get back into game action. Trust me when I say this: If Smith and Sean Lee are both healthy next season, the Giants will not beat Dallas twice, as Big Blue did in 2016. Smith is a game-changer. Teams won't have an answer for him. He's that good.

9. EAGLES COOK-ING UP SOMETHING BIG?

Philly GM Howie Roseman was in talks with the Saints on Thursday about possibly acquiring wide receiver Brandin Cooks from New Orleans to give precocious second-year QB Carson Wentz needed help. That would be bad news for the Giants and the rest of the NFC East, as the upcoming draft also is deep at the corner position, where the Eagles are desperate to upgrade and no doubt will. Philly also won a coin flip to acquire the 14th pick ahead of the Colts at 15. The Tennessee Titans also are said to be talking with the Saints about Cooks, though, and most recently, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com reported late Saturday that the Patriots had offered their 32nd overall pick as part of a package for Cooks, but the Saints said that wasn't enough. Katzenstein said the Saints are looking for a pick in the middle of the first round. So stay tuned. By the way, random Eagles side-note: Coach Doug Pederson is enormous. I can't believe he was a backup quarterback. He looks like an NBA power forward. Now I just have to find out why he thought rolling Wentz around the end on designed scrambles this past season against JPP and Olivier Vernon was a good idea….

Saw Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia walking down the hallway in Indy. This time, Patricia wasn't wearing a Roger Goodell clown nose shirt, a step in the right direction toward semi-professionalism. Patricia of course wore the Barstool Sports shirt coming off the Patriots' plane returning from their Super Bowl LI victory in Houston. The Patriots sentiment expressed by the shirt is understandable, but the only thing worse than a sore loser is an asinine winner.